Have a friend's rifle in the shop, keeps blowing the roller off the bolt. Bolt just back from SA and the roller blew off again after about 14 rounds of NATO spec ammo. Any thoughts? Suggestions of where to look first? Thanks!

__________________
The police of a state should never be stronger or better armed than the citizenry. An armed citizenry, willing to fight, is the foundation of civil freedom.
--ROBERT HEINLEIN

I only own one of these, so I can only suggest where I would check if I had the problem. Look to be sure the barrel is timed on the receiver correctly so the op-rod is coming straight back and is not shoving the roller at an angle. Check that the op-rod guide isn't worn excessively. If you can, swap in the gas system from another gun to try it. That might help isolate the problem. Kuhnhausen has pretty good detail on op-rod fit, and you might check there for tips.

Walt Kuleck sometimes posts on this forum and he may well have other suggestions.

Buy a new bolt and confirm that the headspace is unchanged. If the roller comes off the bolt, you can't really re-install it and expect it to stay unless you replace the lock ring which is inside the roller.

By my understanding, the roller on the bolt was not removable except by grinding it off. It is pretty hard steel and you can't get to the retaining ring once it is installed. If it came off the bolt, the chance are pretty good that the bolt was damaged as a result. Get another bolt and roller or just a roller / retaining ring if you can be SURE that the bolt has not been damaged. Without seeing it, my guess is that you need another bolt.

This email link is to reach site administrators for assistance, if you cannot access TFL via other means. If you are a TFL member and can access TFL, please do not use this link; instead, use the forums (like Questions, Suggestions, and Tech Support) or PM an appropriate mod or admin.

If you are experiencing difficulties posting in the Buy/Sell/Trade subforums of TFL, please read the "sticky" announcement threads at the top of the applicable subforum. If you still feel you are qualified to post in those subforums, please contact "Shane Tuttle" (the mod for that portion of TFL) via Private Message for assistance.

This email contact address is not an "Ask the Firearms Expert" service. Such emails will be ignored. If you have a firearm related question, please register and post it on the forums.